A Salute to Air Mobility Heritage

Posted by Scott Jankowski on July 22nd, 2017

Like many other Military Bases across the country, Scott Air Force Base also has a Heritage Park to honor its rich history. Scott’s is located at 763 Siebert Road, which is directly outside of the main base entrance, and is appropriately named Scott Field Heritage Air Park. This park portrays the history of Scott Air Force Base also that of Air Mobility Command and specifically highlights the Airlift, Air Refueling, and Aeromedical Evacuation Missions. The Air Park includes current and former workhorses of Air Mobility Command with examples of the following aircraft types:

Mc Donnell Douglas C-9A Nightingale Tail Number 71-0877 Construction Number 47495
Delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 1972
Flew with the 374th Airlift Wing and the 30th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Force Base Japan

Gates C-21A Learjet Tail Number 84-0065 Construction Number 35-511
Delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 1985
Flew with the 375TH Air Mobility Wing and the 458th Airlift Squadron at Scott Air Force Base Illinois

Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker Tail Number 56-3611 Construction Number 17360
Delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 1956
Flew with the 121st Air Refueling Wing Ohio Air National Guard, 171st Air Refueling Wing Pennsylvania Air National Guard, and the 126th Air Refueling Wing Illinois Air National Guard.

Lockheed C-140A-LM Jetstar Tail Number 59-5959 Construction Number 1329/5026
Delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 1961
Served in the Philippines, Germany, and Scott Air Force Base. This was the last C-140A to be retired from the inventory in 1996.

Lockheed C-130E Hercules Tail Number 62-1862 Construction Number 17360
Delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 1962
Flew with the 778th Tactical Airlift Squadron, and the 464th Tactical Airlift Wing out of Pope Air Force Base. This C-130 also flew with the 115th Airlift Squadron California Air National Guard and was retired in 2010.

Lockheed C-141B Starlifter Tail Number 65-0236 Construction Number 300-6087
Delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 1966 as a C-141A and later converted to a “B” Model in 1983.
Flew with the 60th Military Airlift Wing Travis Air Force Base California and the 443rd Military Airlift Wing at Altus Air Force Base Oklahoma. This C-141 was part of Operation Homecoming flying former POW’s from Hanoi Vietnam back the United States, and was retired from service in 1993.

The Scott Field Heritage Air Park Committee is responsible for the upkeep of the park and the aircraft with assistance from Scott and the local community. The Park is clean, the aircraft very well kept and are in good condition. The aircraft are arranged and spread out nicely with photos possible from all angles and sides. The added side benefit to the location is that it is right next to Runway 14Right-32Left making arrival and departure shots possible, though the Sun Angle can be tricky depending on the time of day and year. There is plenty of parking and no cost for admission, this is a definite must visit if you are in the area. Until Next time, “Blue Skies To All!”